2 fatal teen shootings both called accidental

Two separate shootings in which teens were killed appear to have been accidental, police said this morning.

The first involved 13-year-old Isiah Mendez, who was found shot to death Tuesday afternoon on a second-floor porch not far from his home.

The latest involved 17-year-old Damien Cesar, of the 3900 block of North Nora Avenue, who was found fatally wounded early this morning at his Northwest Side residence.

Police responded to Cesar's residence about 12:20 a.m. and found him with a gunshot wound, said Police News Affairs Officer Ron Gaines. He was taken to Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.

Sources said witnesses at the scene told police that Cesar had shot himself, and Police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli this morning said the shooting does appear accidental, although police are still investigating.

He said it appeared someone was handling the gun when it discharged. It was not clear if the victim or someone else was holding the weapon at the time. The gun was recovered at the scene. It was not known how many other people were with Cesar at the time.

In the earlier shooting, police at first said the death of Isiah Mendez, of the 1400 block of North Kedzie Avenue, was being handled as a homicide, but a law enforcement source this morning said that shooting also appeared accidental.

Isiah was found about 2:30 p.m. on a second-floor porch in the 3400 block of West Beach Avenue on the West Side, said Chicago Police News Affairs Sgt. Antoinette Ursitti.

He was pronounced dead at 3:25 p.m. at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office.